Dog And Owner Lose A Combined Four Stone

Jayne Bateson from Bracknell, Berkshire, and her dog, Chip, a
five year old Working Sheepdog have lost more than four stone
combined, thanks to improving their diet and increased
exercise.

The pair, who entered the Kennel Club's Get Fit With Fido
Challenge compete in dog agility together and have been getting fit
to improve their health and fitness. Jayne has gone from a size 20
to a size 14, losing a total of three stone and four pounds and
Chip lost seven kilograms, the equivalent of more than one
stone.

Jayne realised she wanted to lose weight after struggling to run
alongside Chip when competing in agility. Since they've both
improved their health and fitness, Chip has recently progressed
from Grade 1 to Grade 3 in agility and is winning lots of
competitions.

Jayne commented: "Chip has always been a big dog and even as a
puppy he was a little chunky, but we always attributed it to puppy
fat. As he got older we changed his food and tried everything but
he was still overweight. After multiple tests, the vet finally
revealed it could be down to his metabolism and suggested we change
his food."

Jayne lives with her two dogs and walks them for up to two hours
a day and trains nearly every day for agility, either at her local
club, Vyne Agility, or on her own. She started a calorie controlled
diet and increased her exercise, walking the dogs more and training
regularly. It was through Vyne Agility that she heard about the
Kennel Club's Get Fit With Fido Challenge and decided to take up
the challenge.

Jayne continued: "After hearing about Get Fit With Fido, I
decided it would be great for me and Chip to enter. The challenge
has highlighted the importance of keeping your dogs healthy. By
combining the new food for Chip, improving my diet and increasing
the amount of exercise for both of us, we've managed to both reach
our target weight. Chip is a totally different dog since he
lost the weight, and is much happier."

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: "Balancing the
nutritional requirements of our pets with a suitable level of
exercise according to their fitness is the key to success. Taking
your dog out for at least two walks a day will help maintain their
fitness and keep them occupied. After all it's not just physical
but also mental stimulation that they need.

"We're so happy to hear Jayne and Chip are doing so well and
hope they keep up the good work."

The Kennel Club's Get Fit With Fido campaign encourages dogs and
their owners to get fit together to improve both health and
fitness. All dog owners who enter Get Fit With Fido will receive a
20 per cent discount on Crufts and Discover Dogs tickets, as well
as advice, tips and tools for owners.

In addition to the education campaign, Get Fit With Fido
includes a Challenge that rewards the dog and dog owner who jointly
lose the most weight, and the dog owner and dog who individually
lose the most weight, with the help of exercising together.
Prizes on offer for the winner of the 2014 Get Fit With Fido
Challenge include a one night stay at the dog friendly 4* boutique
townhouse hotel, Flemings Mayfair; a luxury dog bed from Charley
Chau and Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at the Milestone Hotel in
Kensington.